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Mother, daughter team up for gluten-free cookbook

Amelia Cronic’s family deals with gluten allergies, which helped inspire her to write her new cookbook. From left, Eli, husband Drew, Noah,
Amelia and Isaiah Cronic.

Deberah Williams of Newnan, along with her daughter, Amelia Cronic, and have recently released their new cookbook, “Gluten-free with No Apologies.” The book’s concept is southern-style comfort food recipes so delicious, no one will taste they’re gluten-free.

Cronic, who now lives in Canton, is a former counselor and mother of three, including one child with special needs and multiple allergies and one who is gluten-intolerant. She launched a quest several years ago to provide foods that met her childrens’ nutritional needs and that also tasted good.

“When I began cooking and baking gluten-free, I had a hard time finding good recipes,” Cronic explained. “Plus I felt that each meal I cooked should contain both gluten and gluten-free foods.

“I was also taking gluten-free desserts to celebrations and events we attended so my children wouldn’t feel left out. I began apologizing to everyone for cooking this way, explaining why I had to make gluten-free dishes for my children.”

Cronic began developing recipes, always apologizing to her friends that they were gluten-free. Her friends reacted with surprise, often asking for her recipes and commenting they would never have guessed her dishes were gluten-free. Cronic soon stopped apologizing for food everyone was enjoying.

Soon Cronic’s mother, Deberah Williams, a graphic artist and experienced book and publication designer, as well as a former long-time employee of the Newnan Times-Herald, began helping her come up with recipes, including southern family favorites handed down from generations of amazing cooks. At this point people began recommending they collaborate on a cookbook, and the idea is now a reality.

“I’ve worked on a lot of books before, but this one was really exciting,” said Williams. “Getting it done was really great, but I’ve done that before. But for her, I know she was really excited about finishing it. I’m excited for me but I’m especially excited for her.”

At the same time, celiac disease was becoming more prevalent, cooking with alternate grains, legumes and starches has grown in popularity. “Gluten-free with No Apologies” is a timely idea, an idea that is growing as an alternate health and lifestyle need.

“It started because [Amelia’s] first son had a gluten allergy. He would go to school and his mom would be like, ‘Here’s your cookie and here’s everyone else’s,’” recalled Williams. “He was so excited when he could eat the same cake we could eat. It’s a relief to do something where you didn’t have to tell everybody this is gluten-free.”

In addition to helpful hints and tips for gluten-free cooking, this cookbook includes timeless southern favorites and comfort foods, especially popular for celebrations and holidays. Recipes range from popular standards, like fried chicken and green tomatoes, to chocolate and coconut cakes, to desserts like banana pudding, rich brownies and cookies, all made without gluten.

“We used recipes like our mothers used. They were always good southern cooks,” said Williams. “We decided we owed it to ancestors to cook like them but gluten-free.”

“Gluten-free with No Apologies” is for sale at Amazon.com. The print version is $18.99 and the Kindle ebook version is $9.99.

The authors are already at work on companion cookbooks including, “The No Apologies Gluten-free Summer,” and “The Gluten-free Christmas.”

For more information contact Amelia Cronic at 678-416-6210 or Deberah Williams at 770-891-7271 or visit their blog, No Apologies Gluten-free, which can be found at noapologiesglutenfree.blogspot.com .